Arrival In Mad-a-who-ha!!! Mon Feb. 25

On Monday, we were instructed to call the PC Mad desk in Washington. We learned that all 32 new volunteers had arrived in-country safely. Corie at 22, and and one other girl are the youngest of their group. The oldest is early 30's. They were all safely at the training center in the high plateau area near Tana, which is good because 3 days earlier if you read the news, they had a severe typhoon hit Madagascar on the southern coast. It caused damage and 13 people died. The desk told me all the PC staff in that area were also safe and accounted for. **whew** Corie's first 3 months in training, she will live with a Malagasy family, eat breakfast with them and then attend classes until lunch which is typically a 2-hour break back at the home with the family. Afternoon means back to classes at the training center, a total of 3-5 hours daily language instructions and more classes 'til about 5pm. This happens 6 days a week for three months. She'll be frequently tested on Malagasy language and must pass proficiency tests before being sworn-in as an official Volunteer (rather than a trainee). Toward the end, she'll be interviewed repeatedly, then posted to an assignment! More as we hear word.